Lubricating system



July 16, 1963 G. F. ASlRE 3,097,722

LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed March 50, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

G. F. ASIRE LUBRICATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 0w: HAS/e5 WM 4770a: Ys.

July 16, 1963 Filed March 30, 1962 3,097,722 LUBRICATING SYSTEM George F. Asire, P.0. Box 495, Worland, Wyo. Filed Mar. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 183,932 2 Claims. (Cl. 184105) This invention relates to a lubricating system, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved lubricating system particularly adapted for use with washing machines.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a lubricating system of this character which, by means of internal connections with certain parts which require frequent lubrication, will enable the machine to be lubricated completely without the necessity of disassembly thereof.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is particularly suitable for employment in coin actuated laundry machines which are virtually in continuous use, and which, therefore, require frequent lubrication.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to disassemble certain types of washing machines in order to properly lubricate the same, and this has required a considerable non-productive period during which the machine is shut down, as well as material effort on the part of a mechanic or other individual greasing the machine.

A primary object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of a series of flexible connections as well as modification of certain parts which require lubrication so that the entire machine may be readily lubricated without disassembly, or without the necessity of removing the face plates therefrom.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one form of washing machine embodying features of the instant inventive concept, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view, partially broken away, of the machine disclosed in FIGURE 1, certain parts thereof being cut away disclosing the interior mechanism, and certain additional parts normally concealed, being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged Sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view, partially in section, of a component element of the machine modified in accordance with the instant invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at It) a conventional washing machine of any desired type including a casing 11 having side frame posts 12, and an access door 13, the usual rotary parts of the mechanism being omitted since they comprise no portion of the instant invention. In each of the front posts 12 exteriorly of the face plate 14 of the front of the ma- 3,097,722 Patented July 16, 1963 chine there is provided a grease fitting 415 and 15a, which may be of either the zerk or A'lemite type, and each of which is connected to a flexible tube 16 and 17.

One of the corner posts 12 is provided interiorly with a plate-like support 18 through which extends an operating handle 19 exteriorly of the front of the machine. By a pull on operating-handle 19 certain of the parts of the mechanism may be lubricated in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

One of the most important points requiring lubrication in a Washing machine of this character is the support shaft for the main drive pulley. conventionally, such a shaft comprises a substantially solid shaft and in order properly to lubricate the same, the pulley must be removed therefrom. In accordance with the instant invention this shaft, generally indicated at 20 and best shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, is provided with a reduced end portion 21 having a threaded bore therein for the reception of a grease fitting of any desired type, 22, threaded bore 23 in the end of fitting 22, open into a central bore 24 from which a lateral opening 25 extends into a V-shaped groove 26, the groove 26 is interiorly positioned relative to the pulley hub, and, in FIGURE 3, the pulley is removed for clarity of illustration. In order to introduce grease to the fitting 22, an angle iron bar 27 is provided and has centrally a cup-shaped female grease fitting 28 which fits over the fitting 22, and which is supplied with grease through an internal channel 29 which in turn is supplied through a flexible plastic tube 16 which extends from the front fitting 15. The angle member 27 is pivoted as on a pivot 33 to an angularly disposed projection 31 carried by one side wall 32 of easing It). The angle iron is bent upwardly as at 33 (see FIG. 3) and seats at its other end on an upwardly inclined projecting portion 34 secured to the other side wall 35 of casing 10. The curved end 35 of an operating rod 36 is secured as by a cotter pin 37 to angle iron member 27, the rod 36 terminating in handle portion 19 on the front wall of the housing. It will thus be seen that when grease is supplied through the line 16 to the cup-shaped fitting 28 after the handle 19 has been moved to pull rod 16 upwardly and engage the female fitting 28 with the male fitting 22 and grease is disseminated through the passages 24 and 25 in the V-shaped groove 26 to the main drive pulley, and all further lubrication thereof is rendered unnecessary.

Grease tube 17 extends from the opening 15a to an idler pulley shaft 40, from which the pulley has been also removed for the sake of clarity, and which is normally solid. In this construction the plastic tube 17 is secured by a conventional clamping collar 43 to a fitting pipe 42 which is threaded into an opening in the shaft 49 and communicates with a bore 44 therein. The bore 44 opens outwardly into a groove 45 on the side of the shaft 40 and thus serves to lubricate the idler pulley during the use and operation thereof.

An additional point requiring lubrication frequently is the shift lever 53, which is mounted in conventional fashion, and which, as shown in FIGURE 8, includes an arm 51 having a tubular member at one end thereof 52 and a second apertured end 53. A cross pipe or tube 54 normally surrounds a tubular shaft 55, which serves as a pivot for movement of the shift lever 50. In the instant invention the solid sleeve 54 is provided with a threaded bore 56 into which is fitted a grease fitting 57, the fitting 57 being so arranged as to be readily accessible, or alternatively, connected by rubber tubing or plastic tubing or the like to one of the lines 16 or 17 or to an additional opening in the front of the washing machine.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that by the use of a simple grease gun successively introduced to fittings 15 and 15a, the major important points of the device may be lubricated completely without the necessity of disassembly, and that a simple pull on handle 19 will juxtapose the female grease fitting 28 to the fitting 22 for lubrieating the primary drive shaft.

Obviously, other points requiring lubricant can be similarly connected by appropriate tubes to fittings properly placed in accordance with the particular type and design of washing machine.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine including a casing having a front panel, a main drive pulley support shaft and a pulley rotatable thereon, said shaft having a bore therein, a channel on the periphery of said shaft interiorly of said pulley, and a duct between said bore and said channel, a grease fitting communicating with said bore, a flexible tube engageable with said grease fitting and extending through the front panel of the machine, a second grease fitting on the extending end of said tube,

said tube including a cup-shaped fitting movable into and out of engagement with said first-mentioned grease fitting, and means for moving said cup-shaped fitting into and out of engagement with said firstmentioned grease fitting.

l 2. In a washing machine including a casing having a front panel, a main drive pulley support shaft and a pulley rotatable thereon, said shaft having a bore therein, a channel on the periphery of said shaft interiorly of said pulley, and a duct between said bore and said channel, a grease fitting communicating With said bore, a flexible tube engageable with said grease fitting and extending through the front panel of the machine, a second grease fitting on the extending end of said tube, said tube including a cupshaped fitting movable into and out of engagement with said first-mentioned grease fitting, means for moving said cup-shaped fitting into and out of engagement with said first-mentioned grease fitting,

said last-mentioned means comprising a pivoted angle bar carrying said cup-shaped fitting on said tube, a rod secured to said angle bar, and an operating handle on said front panel connected to said rod;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,297 Dirkes Mar. 10, 1931 2,746,816 Michie et al May 22, 1956 2,942,447 Riekel et al June 28, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 597,174 Canada May 3, 1960 

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING A CASING HAVING A FRONT PANEL, A MAIN DRIVE PULLEY SUPPORT SHAFT AND A PULLEY ROTATABLE THEREON, SAID SHAFT HAVING A BORE THEREIN, A CHANNEL ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SHAFT INTERIORLY OF SAID PULLEY, AND A DUCT BETWEEN SAID BORE AND SAID CHANNEL, A GREASE FITTING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE, A FLEXIBLE TUBE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID GREASE FITTING AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE FRONT PANEL OF THE MACHINE, A SECOND GREASE FITTING ON THE EXTENDING END OF SAID TUBE, SAID TUBE INCLUDING A CUP-SHAPED FITTING MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED GREASE FITTING, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CUP-SHAPED FITTING INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRSTMENTIONED GREASE FITTING. 